9A.1 © Wood Environment & Infrastructure Solutions UK Limited Appendix 9A Ecological Desk Study April 2019 Doc Ref:..40001CGoS031 9A.2 © Wood Environment & Infrastructure Solutions UK Limited April 2019 Doc Ref:..40001CGoS031 9A.3 © Wood Environment & Infrastructure Solutions UK Limited 1. Desk Study 1.1 Methodology 1.1.1 The following desk based assessment was carried out with the aim of identifying potential ecological constraints (excluding birds – see Appendix 8A) to the Proposed Development, following the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) best practice guidelines1. The exercise was undertaken to obtain existing information relating to relevant ecological features; these are statutory and non-statutory biodiversity sites, habitats and species of principal importance2, legally protected and controlled species and other conservation notable species that have been recorded over the previous 10 years (i.e. 2009 to 2019). 1.1.2 Table 9A.1 lists the data compiled within the desk study area, which is the Proposed Development boundary and the additional areas of search beyond, and is shown on Figure 9A.1 Study Area. Table 1A.1 Information Relevant to the Desk Study Ecological feature Example/description Study Area Statutory sites designated under Wetlands of International Importance (also known as Ramsar sites), The Proposed International conventions or Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas Development area and European legislation (SPAs)3 within 20km of it. Statutory sites designated under Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), National Nature Reserves The Proposed national legislation (NNRs) and Local Nature Reserves (LNRs) Development area and within 2km of it. Locally designated sites Often termed as Local Wildlife Sites (LWS), County Wildlife Sites The Proposed (CWS), Sites of Interest for Nature Conservation (SINC) Development area and within 2km of it. Scottish Biodiversity List Red Flora, fauna and habitats of principal importance for the conservation The Proposed listed species4 and Legally of biodiversity in Scotland. Development area and protected species. Species recorded on The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and/or within 2km of it. local Red Lists for the UK or relevant sub-units (e.g. regions or counties) and legally protected habitats and species include those listed on Schedules 1, 5 and 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended), those included on Schedules 2 and 5 of the Habitats Regulations. Badger and Hedgerows are provided protection under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 and the Hedgerows Regulations 1997 respectively Legally controlled species Legally controlled species include those listed on Schedule 9 of the The Proposed Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended). Development area and within 2 km of it. 1 CIEEM (2018) Guidelines for Ecological Impact Assessment in the UK and Ireland: Terrestrial, Freshwater, Coastal and Marine. Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management, Winchester. 2 The Scottish Biodiversity List is a list of plants, animals and habitats that Scottish Ministers consider to be of principal importance to biological conservation. https://www.gov.scot/Topics/Environment/Wildlife-Habitats/16118/Biodiversitylist/SBL 3 The designations considered in this assessment as European sites include SPAs, SACs and candidate SACs and Sites of Community Importance (SCI); these sites are collectively referred to Natura 2000 sites. Draft SPAs (dSPA), Potential SPAs (pSPA), possible SACs (pSACs), draft SACs (dSAC), Ramsar sites are also considered in line with planning policy. 4 Red listed species for the purposes of this assessment refer to those noted using IUCN criteria as being “Near Threatened”, “Vulnerable”, “Endangered” and “Critically Endangered”, and those on present on local Red Lists in the categories "Nationally Scarce” and “Nationally Rare”. April 2019 Doc Ref:..40001CGoS031 9A.4 © Wood Environment & Infrastructure Solutions UK Limited 1.1.3 Table 9A.2 lists the organisations and other sources that have supplied data, together with the nature of that data. 1.1.4 Where appropriate, data were drawn from existing ecological records and site information obtained through field surveys conducted in 2010/11 to support the 2012 Stornoway Wind Farm Environmental Statement. Field data collected during this period relates to Phase 1 habitat survey, National Vegetation Classification (NVC), and otter, freshwater pearl mussel, and freshwater invertebrate surveys. Table 1A.2 Sources of Desk Study Data Source Summary of information provided SNH's interactive map facility at Access to data and information on key protected areas across (https://sitelink.nature.scot/home) Scotland. National Biodiversity Network (NBN) gateway's Commercially-available records of protected and/or notable information service (http://data.nbn.org.uk) species from within the last ten years. Forestry Commission online map Extents of woodland and forests (including ancient woodland (http://map.environment.scotland.gov.uk/landinformation inventory areas) and FCS approved areas for plantation search/lis_map.html); Stornoway Wind Farm EIA Report 2012 Contextual material regarding the previous consented wind farm. Stornoway Wind Farm Variation EIA Report 2016 Rafferty & Proctor (2011) Stornoway Wind Farm Phase 1 A Phase 1 Habitat and National Vegetation Classification and NVC Habitat Survey, Highland Ecology. baseline survey of the Stornoway Wind Farm (2011) Royal Haskoning (2011). Survey of otters Lutra lutra for An otter baseline survey of the Stornoway Wind Farm (2011) Lewis Wind Power, Stornoway Wind Farm. Outer Hebrides Biological Recording group (OHBR) Data request for records of protected and/or notable species within a 2km radius of the Site Findlay, M., Alexander, L. & Macleod, C. 2015. Site Baseline condition status of Lewis Peatlands SAC with respect to condition monitoring for otters (Lutra lutra) in 2011-12. otters. Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report No. 521. 1.1.5 Following a search for commercially available records of protected and/or notable species on the National Biodiversity Atlas (NBN) database, biological data requests were sent to the Outer Hebrides Biological Recording Group (OHBR), Comhairle nan Eilan Siar (Western Isles Council), and Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH). 1.1.6 OHBR was the only organisation to hold records of biological data for the Development Site and surrounding area. As records are limited to OHBR only, this Desk Study may not provide an exhaustive list of protected species within the local area. OHBR were unable to provide detailed records for certain species, including birds and bryophytes. In addition to this, the area encompassing Development Site and surrounding 2km buffer is largely un-recorded. Therefore, the dataset reflects recorder effort and interests and should not be viewed as a comprehensive reflection of the biodiversity or the ecological or conservation importance of the area. 1.1.7 The Western Isles Local Biodiversity Action Plan is currently under revision, as such up to date information regarding species of local conservation concern could not be provided. April 2019 Doc Ref:..40001CGoS031 9A.5 © Wood Environment & Infrastructure Solutions UK Limited 1.2 Results Statutory and Non-statutory Designated Sites 1.2.1 Table 9A.3 provides details of Statutory and Non-Statutory sites identified within the Study Area defined in Table 9A.1. A map detailing the location of each site presented in Figure 9A-2. Table 9A.3 Statutory and Non-statutory Designated Sites within the Study Area Site name Designation Central Grid Description Distance and Reference orientation from works site Statutory Sites Lewis Peatlands SPA and NB326379 The site comprises an extensive area of deep Immediately adjacent to Ramsar blanket bog, interspersed with bog pool western site boundary. complexes and freshwater lochs. Within Britain, the Lewis peatlands are second in extent only to the Caithness and Sutherland peatlands and represent the extreme north-west part of the range of variation. Features of qualifying interest also include birds of international importance: Red and black throated diver, golden eagle, merlin, golden plover, dunlin and greenshank. Lewis Peatlands SAC NB320373 Designated for the following qualifying features: Approximately 850m acid peat-stained lakes and ponds; blanket bog; west of site boundary at clear water lochs with aquatic vegetation and poor closest point. to moderate nutrient levels; wet heath; and otters. Tong Saltings SSSI NB 440358 The site contains one of the largest areas of Approximately 3km saltmarsh and tidal flats in the Outer Hebrides and north-east of site is the best representative intertidal system on the boundary. eastern seaboard. Notified natural features include coastal mudflats, saltmarsh and sand dunes. The site is also important for wintering and breeding birds. Achmore Bog SSSI NB314275 The site is one of the best examples of blanket bog Approximately 2.4 km habitat in Lewis, with a wide range of plants and south-west of the animals characteristic of western-Scottish blanket Proposed Development bogs. The blanket bog includes hummocks dominated by Racomitrium and Sphagnum moss species. The shallow peat pools have bog sedge Carex limosa and other local species growing in and around them. Notes: Both Loch Orosay and Stornoway Castle Woodlands SSSI have been denoted following submission of the original EIA application in 2011, and therefore